Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The Matchups

No. 3 Regina (11-7) vs. No. 12 Greene County (14-6)

The 13^th consecutive state tournament appearance for Regina opens with a rematch against a Greene County squad the Regals defeated 1-0 on May 8.

It is also a rematch of the 2019 state quarterfinal between the two teams that Regina won 2-1 in overtime on its way to its third consecutive 1A title.

Regina has won eight of the past 11 Class 1A state titles and is seeking to become the first team in state history to win four consecutive championships in any class.

The Regals returned to the state tournament by outlasting fourth-ranked Solon in penalty kicks in the substate final.

Regina faced its annual grinder of a regular season schedule with five of its losses coming to Class 3A competition and the other two coming at the hands of 1A qualifiers and potential semifinal opponents Waterloo Columbus and Burlington Notre Dame.

Greene County is back at the state tournament for the second time after dropping its state debut to Regina in 2019.

The Rams lost three of four matches earlier this month, a stretch that included the 1-0 regular season loss to Regina, but rebounded to win five straight returning to the state tournament by downing West Central Valley in penalty kicks in the substate final.

No. 1 Burlington Notre Dame (20-1) vs. No. 7 Waterloo Columbus (12-8)

Burlington Notre Dame was among the most dominant teams in the state this season regardless of class, scoring double digit goals eight times in 20 matches while leading Class 1A in scoring.

Burlington Notre Dame outscored opponents by a state-best average of 5.9 goals per match while advancing to the state tournament for the first time in program history.

In a pair of postseason matches Burlington Notre Dame outscored opponents 8-1 including a 4-1 win over Mediapolis in the substate final.

The lone loss this season came on May 6 in overtime at Class 3A North Scott.

Waterloo Columbus was one of only three teams to stay within a goal of top-seeded Burlington Notre Dame this season and gets shot to avenge a 1-0 regular season loss to the Nikes in the quarterfinals.

The Sailors are making their second consecutive state tournament appearance after finishing runner-up to Regina in 2019.

Waterloo Columbus dropped to 5-6 on the season after dropping one-goal matches to top-ranked Burlington Notre Dame, second-ranked Dyersville Beckman and third-ranked Regina on the same day on May 1.

The Sailors were 8-8 before rattling off four consecutive wins including a trio of postseason wins in which they outscored opponents 16-1.

No. 5 West Liberty (15-3) vs. No. 6 Council Bluffs St. Albert (14-6)

West Liberty is making its second consecutive trip to state after reaching the 1A semifinals in 2019.

The Comets are unbeaten against 1A competition this season with their three losses coming to 3A teams Clinton and Muscatine and 2A No. 15 Davenport Assumption.

Since a 3-1 loss to Clinton on May 7 the Comets have won six in a row, outscoring opponents 34-7 while posting four shutouts including a 3-0 win over No. 15 Mid-Prairie in the substate final.

Council Bluffs St. Albert has navigated its own challenging schedule this season while reaching the state tournament for the first time since 2017.

The Falcons have losses to 3A programs Council Bluffs Lewis Central and Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln, 2A teams Glenwood, Davenport Assumption and Denison-Schleswig and 1A qualifier Regina.

Council Bluffs St. Albert has won four in a row, three via shutout, and advanced to the state tournament with a 3-2 overtime win over ninth-ranked Treynor.

No. 10 Western Christian (14-1) vs. No. 12 North Fayette Valley (14-4)

There may not be a better story in the state this season than North Fayette Valley who is in just its second year as a program and went 3-10 in its debut season in 2019.

The TigerHawks started the season 2-2 but have won 12 of 14 since including a 2-1 upset of second-ranked Dyersville Beckman in the substate final.

Senior Sam Nefzer is the headliner for North Fayette Valley with 30 goals but he has had plenty of help this season most notably from senior Jonah Moore who has 20 goals and 13 assists and freshman Andre Fuentes who has 16 goals and a team-high 22 assists.

Western Christian is making its second ever trip to the state tournament and first since 2009.

The Wolfpack has won eight in a row since it’s only loss of the season, a 3-2 setback to Class 2A fifth-ranked Spencer on April 29.

Western Christian has scored at least two goals in every match this season and has scored three or more during each match of its eight-match winning streak.

The Players

REGINA: Alec Wick, Sr., – A two-time all-state selection Wick has been exceptional as a senior ranking eighth in 1A with 29 goals and adding six assists in just 15 matches.

GREENE COUNTY: Alex Roberts, Sr., – Senior Alex Roberts has scored a team-high 11 goals this season and leads the Rams in shots and shots on goal.

BURLINGTON NOTRE DAME: Sam Brueck, Sr. – One of the most productive players in the state his spring Brueck ranks sixth in 1A with 32 goals and is third among 1A players with 20 assists.

WATERLOO COLUMBUS: Jezz Chacon Rodriguez, Sr., – A consistent threat for the Sailors, Chacon Rodriguez has scored a team-high 18 goals and leads Waterloo Columbus with 12 assists.

WEST LIBERTY: Jahsiah Galvan, Jr., – A coveted football recruit Galvan is equally dangerous on the soccer pitch ranking fourth in 1A with 36 goals and fifth with 18 assists in 17 matches.

COUNCIL BLUFFS ST. ALBERT: Brayden Shepard, Fr., – Shepard has burst onto the prep scene this season scoring 29 goals and adding nine assists in his first taste of varsity soccer.

WESTERN CHRISTIAN: Bailey Baccam, Sr., – The top offensive threat for the Wolfpack, Baccam leads Western Christian with 20 goals and 10 assists in just 15 matches.

NORTH FAYETTE VALLEY: Sam Nefzger, Sr., – Nefzger ranks seventh in 1A with 30 goals this season and has scored in six straight matches putting up six goals in three postseason wins.

The Favorite

Burlington Notre Dame has the top-seed, the best record and the most impressive regular season resume.

Regina is still the favorite.

The Regals have ended the season alone atop the Class 1A mountain eight times in the past 11 seasons including each of the last three years and until someone knocks them off that is where the Regals will stay.

The Underdog

There are a few lower seeds capable of making noise in the 1A bracket but North Fayette Valley is the perfect Cinderella story.

A young program that won just three matches in 2019 the TigerHawks are one of the most improved teams in the state in 2021.

Seventh-seeded North Fayette Valley is capable of pulling another upset this week after taking out second-ranked and perennial title contender Dyersville Beckman in the substate final.

The Darkhorse

It is easy to focus on a traditional power like Regina, a dominant top-ranked team like Burlington Notre Dame or an upstart squad like Western Christian or North Fayette Valley but don’t overlook West Liberty for a second.

The Comets have a pair of the most dynamic players anywhere in the state and a solid mix of talent and experience up and down their roster.

West Liberty reached the semifinals two seasons ago and is capable of doing even more this season.

Five Fast Facts

* – Regina senior Alec Wick enters state tournament play with 75 career goals with six of those goals coming in six state tournament matches.

* – Burlington Notre Dame leads Class 1A with 134 goals this season, an average of better than 6.3 goals per match and 28 more than any other 1A team has scored.

* – West Liberty teammates Jahsiah Galvan and Juan Mateo are the highest scoring duo in the state this season teaming up for 69 goals in 18 matches.

* – North Fayette Valley won three matches and scored 17 goals in 2019. The TigerHawks have won 14 matches and rank fourth in Class 1A with 88 goals this season.

* – Burlington Notre Dame has four players with more than 21 goals this season. There are only five other players in the entire 1A field that have scored goals.

The Schedule

Tuesday’s Quarterfinals

Burlington Notre Dame (20-1) vs. Waterloo Columbus (12-8), Noon

Regina (11-7) vs. Greene County (14-6), 12:10 p.m.

West Liberty (15-3) vs. Council Bluffs St. Albert (14-6), 12:20 p.m.

Western Christian (14-1) vs. North Fayette Valley (14-4), 12:30 p.m.

Thursday’s Semifinals

Burlington Notre Dame/Waterloo Columbus winner vs. Regina/Greene Country winner, Noon

West Liberty/Council Bluffs St. Albert winner vs. Western Christian/North Fayette Valley winner, 12:10 p.m.

Saturday’s Championship

Semifinal winners, Noon

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